Custom events
Custom Events
We design meetings and events to fit our clients' needs. Among the events we have designed and led are:
-- science meetings
-- board retreats
-- strategic planning sessions
-- public participation processes
-- staff retreats
-- networking events
-- restorative retreats for groups and individuals
If you would like us to facilitate an event or retreat for your group, schedule a conversation to share what you have in mind.
Custom Workshops
The following workshops introduce groups to powerful tools and practices for working collaboratively. Most work well for conferences, staff meetings and lunchtime seminars.
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Grow and Let Go Living things – including projects and organizations – are in a constant flow of growth and renewal. In this workshop, you'll use a tool (the Ecocycle) that can help you view, organize, and prioritize what you are doing now and identify obstacles and opportunities for progress. 90 minutes,Schedule this workshop for your group. |
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Quick (and Fun!) Planning Tools Align your organization toward united action! In less time than you'd think possible, you can both draft a Why-focused mission statement and gain new insights on how to implement your Why in the coming months or year. In two 90 minute sessions and with a couple more sessions with your group, you can draft the essentials of a strategic plan that is both structured and flexible. Book a short meeting to work out the details. |
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RestUP: Being well-rested isn't just about getting a good night's sleep. In this 90 to 120 minute workshop, you'll learn about eight types of rest, experience several of them, take an inventory of your rest and make a plan for getting just a little more rest. If you are interested in hosting a RestUp workshop tailored to your group, contact RestUP. |
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Improve Engagement in Your Meetings In 60 to 90 minutes, your group will experience three versatile easy-to-learn activities that will increase participation in your meetings. We sprinkle in 10 or more practical tips that will help your group engage more. Set up a time to discuss what you want your group to do. |
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Create Focused and Productive Meetings |
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Better Communication: Want to improve communication in your workplace, organization and life? Experience listening at a deeper level by using just a few very versatile, un-biased and non-leading questions. Read this introduction to Clean language, then set up a time to talk about what your group would like to have happen. We can do an introductory workshop. |
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Beyond Bob: In this session, we separate the myth from the method and identify ways to begin shifting your meetings towards more collaboration and inclusiveness. Then we take it a step farther by practicing alternatives you can use even if your bylaws require using Robert's Rules. 60 minutes or longer, online or in person. In longer workshops, we guide your group to identify what isn't working and list next steps for imrpoving its decision-making process. Book a short meeting to tell us what bugs you about Robert's Rules. |
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Transitions Retreats If your team or a group is going through a transition, we'd be delighted to support you with a in-person retreat, which can be from 6 hours to 3 days long. We explore transitions and loss through reflective journaling, small group conversations, gentle movement and intuitive art. No talent is needed, only curiosity is a must! |
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Pricing Event fees depend on whether the event is in person or online, the amount of preparation required and the size of the group.
Typical comments from workshop participants
- "I love Barb's sense of humor and her easy-going style."
- "One of the finest courses I have taken!"
- "Materials were well-prepared, clear, and will be easy to refer to as we continue our practice."
- "I loved Barb's approach to this -- it was fun and engaging without being pretentious."
- "Barb took us as we are and helped us to grow."
- "I appreciated the relevant material and format, the variety of engaging activities, and the willingness to adapt to the group's needs."
- "Very professional!"
[Before taking the Quick Planning workshop,] we were quite scattered, and unsure, on how to approach a solution to a problem we were having.
Through the steps of the workshop, we were able to narrow down the priorities of the project, identify where we needed support, and formulate a plan for executing what we needed to solve the problem.
The steps were clear and manageable. We appreciated having time during the session to get ideas started that we were easily able to pick up again on our own time.
I was looking for an easy, accessible, and effective annual planning process that could be used for two different organizations. I heard about this seminar and immediately thought it would be helpful.
Presenting the Ecocycle provided a church group I was involved with some perspective on where they have been, where they are now, and where they need to be going forward. The questions also provided the group with important discussion topics and direction for their priorities for this year.
The seminar provided me with both new insights and information, and a chance to practice these new insights.
"We were extremely impressed by how Barb and Sandy worked with us. Their approach was easy and collaborative.
One of the things that we needed to work out together was a pricing structure. They started by asking questions, learning as much as they could about us, including how we did the financial side of our ministry, and then made good, solid business suggestions based on our answers. They were always respectful, never telling us what to do but instead, asking "have you thought about X?" They wanted it to be a win-win-win for us, themselves and the retreatants.
The new sliding scale pricing structure that we worked out together not only benefited our retreat center financially, but their retreat was well attended and even attracted new people who had not heard of us before. Working with Barb and Sandy has given us the confidence to be more open to other financial arrangements."
-- Adele DiNatale-Svetnicka
Retreat and Program Coordinator
St. Anthony's Spirituality Center
